Filed under: Green , Marketing/Advertising , Videos , BMW , Kia , Lexus , Mercedes-Benz , Nissan , Toyota , Crossover , Hatchback , Electric , Hybrid Lexus will run a 30-second spot for the NX during this year’s Super Bowl, while BMW announces it will be showcasing the i3 in a 60-second spot. Four other carmakers have announced plans to join the party, down from 11 carmakers who advertised during last year’s event. Continue reading Lexus NX, BMW i3 to get Super Bowl commercials Lexus NX, BMW i3 to get Super Bowl commercials originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jan 2015 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

NEW YORK, September 18, 2013 – NBCUniversal, in partnership with Lexus, today announced “It’s Your Move After Dark,” the first truly live, real-time marketing broadcast commercial campaign that will launch the all-new Lexus IS. The ads will take advantage of real-time marketing by allowing viewers to contribute ad concepts via social networks to influence the creative for the Lexus advertisements. This unique, interactive cross-platform initiative will be comprised of a series of live, improvisational short comedy ads that will run in the commercial pods during NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (12:35am ET/PT on NBC). The ads will be based on real-time viewer social media submissions each Thursday and performed by some of New York’s best improvisational comedy troupes including Fun Young Guys, Magnet Theater Touring Company, MB’s Dream and Stone Cold Fox.

Filed under: Budget , Sedan , Marketing/Advertising , Videos , Toyota Despite the fact that the Toyota Corolla pretty much sells itself, the eleventh-generation 2014 model is getting a huge marketing push that aims to appeal to both Millennials (of course), as well as the older generations that have lived with the stalwart Japanese compact for decades. The first television advertising spot, called, “Style Never Goes Out of Style,” shows that the Corolla has had a place in mainstream culture since its launch in the 1960s. We have to admit, it’s pretty cool to see older models from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s come out to play for this commercial, especially the latter of those, as it gives us enthusiasts fond memories of the infamous AE86. The whole web/broadcast/print/social media marketing campaign surrounding the 2014 Corolla is called “Elevate,” because, according to Toyota : Extensive market research shows that Millennials are looking to take their career to the next level and are looking to buy their first ‘real’ car to get them there. The design of the all-new Corolla is significantly elevated from the previous generations, creating a more dynamic and desirable image for the Corolla nameplate that will appeal to these younger buyers. In our First Drive of the 2014 Corolla , we found it to be a perfectly fine vehicle for the sort of day-to-day, appliance-like tasks it will be asked to accomplish, but in terms of excitement… there isn’t any. But since research shows that more and more younger buyers don’t really give a hoot about driving , perhaps a shiny new appliance like the Corolla is exactly what they’ll be looking for when it comes time to buy a car. Scroll down to have a look at Toyota’s newest commercial for the Corolla, as well as the company’s press blast. Continue reading First 2014 Toyota Corolla commercial dances through time First 2014 Toyota Corolla commercial dances through time originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 Sep 2013 19:05:00 EST.

Filed under: Coupe , Videos , Toyota , Humor Alright, so maybe “most elegant” is a bit of a stretch, but we feel safe in calling the 1992 Toyota Paseo in the video below an “automobile.” High praise, we know. Still, it’s clear someone loves the awkward little coupe enough to produce a hilarious video to sell the thing. Henry Floyd worked up a quick parody of the over-the-top luxury car ads we all know and loathe, and while the finished product is a little skimpy on details like price or location, it certainly doesn’t hold back on the exposition. Hell, if we didn’t already have a parade of horrible ideas floating around our collective driveways, we might even be convinced to give this little heap a new home. You can check out the ad for yourself below , just don’t be surprised if you find yourself with a burning desire to own a Paseo. Continue reading Meet the Most Elegant Automobile, and it’s for sale Meet the Most Elegant Automobile, and it’s for sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 08 Jun 2013 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising , Videos , Crossover , Toyota , Celebrities , Humor For viewers who plan on watching the Super Bowl only for the commercials, here’s one for you to enjoy ahead of time. As we saw in the teaser video that Toyota released last week, will be making the transition from Big Bang to The Big Game as a wish-granting genie in a commercial for the 2013 Toyota RAV4 . Though not as entertaining as the actual teaser for this commercial, it still garnered a couple chuckles from the Autoblog crew. We won’t spoil it for you, but a word of advice: if Cuoco ever shows up in your driveway granting you wishes, we’d suggest you be very clear what you want… and enunciate. If you want to see the commercial before this Sunday’s game, we have the video (and an accompanying press release) posted after the jump . Continue reading Toyota, Kaley Cuoco grant wishes in Super Bowl XLVII ad Toyota, Kaley Cuoco grant wishes in Super Bowl XLVII ad originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: Hatchback , Toyota , Electric 2012 was supposed to be the year the all-electric version of the Toyota / Scion iQ made a splash. Instead, it appears that while it remains technically true that the iQ EV will launch this year, it will be a much, much smaller splash than previously anticipated. According to Reuters , the iQ will have an “extremely limited release.” That’s a kind way to say that the 100 iQ EVs that Reuters says Toyota will now sell in the U.S. and Japan is a much smaller figure than was anticipated. The writing has been on the wall for a while. All the way back in 2009, Toyota hinted that the EV, which can only go 50 miles on a charge, might be destined for car-sharing services , and in 2011, a Toyota spokesperson confirmed the iQ EV would be a ” low-volume vehicle .” Now, the official Toyota line (see below ) is that: Toyota has seen that many customers are not yet willing to compromise on range, and they don’t like the time needed to re-charge the batteries. Moreover, the infrastructure for recharging has not become as widespread as originally anticipated. So, even though Toyota is ready with the iQ EV, we believe a plug-in hybrid solution offers a better way than pure electric for most customer needs in the short- to medium-term, and that is where we will concentrate our commercial activities . Toyota vice chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada tells Reuters , “The current capabilities of electric vehicles do not meet society’s needs, whether it may be the distance the cars can run, or the costs, or how it takes a long time to charge.” Compare this attitude to the one displayed by Daimler , which today has hundreds of Smart Electric Drive vehicles functioning as car-sharing rides through its Car2go program in places like San Diego, CA and Austin, TX. Toyota will still move forward with the launch of the RAV4 EV, and expects to sell around 2,600 of them in the next three years .

Filed under: Hybrid , Government/Legal , Technology , Videos , Hatchback , Toyota It’s election time and auto bailouts are not the only thing politicians are talking about. Down in Florida, one group has connected a candidate’s support for automated car testing to, well, nothing. And that makes him evil. The Committee to Protect Florida has taken Rep. Jeff Brandes (R-Fla.) to task for proving automated cars did not operate by “witchcraft” instead of working on other things in the St. Petersburg area. The commercial attempts to instill fear in the program and make it sound like these machines are running amok on Florida’s streets. (Note the sound effects at the end of the video.) The attack ad features a Toyota Prius running a stop sign and nearly hitting an older woman using a walker as the narrator goes on about how silly these newfangled machines might be. Then the commercial flashes the question, “Will Driverless cars REALLY stop for pedestrians?” Maybe. And if they don’t, everyone should blame Jeff Brandes.

Filed under: Coupe , Marketing/Advertising , Videos , Scion , Toyota Toyota , now all about getting its groove back, changed its ad slogan to “Let’s Go Places.” Scion , meanwhile, advertises the FR-S (Toyota 86) around the world with drift-happy regional launch videos and, in the UK, scenes of dystopian breakout . But in this corner of the world, before Scion went mature, we remember when it had hip, DJ-driven spots with editing as edgy as the image it was trying to promote. Which brings us to this 30-second spec ad, created by YouTube users Marcus Stokes and Marko Mandaric. Heavy on the bass and VFX, it pitches the FR-S in Scion’s original style. And even though the FR-S is the easy offering to slot in, we suspect the vibe might do favors for the tC and, pushing things, even the iQ simply because it’s so left-field. So while we try and figure out whether the FR-S means Scion’s got its goove back, you can check out the video below . Continue reading Would this commercial make you want to buy a Scion? Would this commercial make you want to buy a Scion? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Sep 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .

Filed under: Hybrid , Marketing/Advertising , Videos , Hatchback , Toyota The curtain’s been lifted on the ad campaign for the Toyota Prius C , and it’s all about the game of life via the boardgame The Game of Life. The first spot is called Malti-poo and in it’s ad-speaky way it targets “city-dwelling millennials” as it “demonstrates key vehicle attributes in a fun and approachable way.” It “embodies the youthful spirit of the vehicle and offers creative content that integrates this iconic childhood game” while it also “offers visual tools and easy ways to share digestible information and collect opinions.” In English: it’s trying to hook first-time car buyers on the notable features of the Prius C in inventive ways. Case in point: the Malti-poo spot will be followed by one called “Dolphin Tattoo,” and platforms will include broadcast television, print, consumer experience and a YouTube channel that provides car buying and financial advice. See below for the ad and the press release describing the campaign. Continue reading Toyota Prius C ad campaign begins with “Malti-poo” spot Toyota Prius C ad campaign begins with “Malti-poo” spot originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink